1 Kings 18/2 Chron. 29-31: Hezekiah, Man of Revival and Joy

"For [Hezekah] held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses." 2 Kings 18:6

This morning we read of a king whose name was Hezekiah. In contrast to many of the other kings of Israel and Judah, we find that Hezekiah was actually a righteous king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Yet, his righteousness surpassed many of the other righteous kings we read of. Why? Because he remained true to the Lord until the end. Not only this, but Hezekiah initiated a revival in the land of Israel, which we turn to this morning.

During Hezekiah's reign, something phenomenal happened. Because of Hezekiah's righteousness and fearless leadership, he led the people of Israel into a revival. As we've been reading through both the historical books and the prophets, we've found the great evil that was happening in both northern and southern Israel. Northern Israel had just been taken captive by Assyria because of their wickedness, but southern Israel was still standing, though deeply involved with their sin. Yet, Hezekiah sought to change that, and he did, which we read about in 2 Chronicles 29-31.

In these great chapters, we find Hezekiah asking the priests to cleanse and consecrate the temple, that the nation of Israel might worship the Lord rightly. After they do so, Hezekiah leads them into celebrating the feasts and festivals of the Lord, which had been neglected for many years. Thus, the Passover is celebrated, and at the end of the feast, we find that the people of Israel were filled with "great joy" (2 Chronicles 30:26). For years, the people of Israel had been filled with nothing but sin, iniquity, and transgression, but now that they turned their sights to the Lord and honored his ways through the leadership of Hezekiah, they were filled with nothing but joy.

In this truth is our application for this morning. Although much could be said here about revival and renewal, I want to point out this morning the joy that comes in following God's commands. So often, we think that true joy, pleasure, and happiness comes from sin, do we not? We think that selfishness, pride, impurity, laziness, or any other sin is the solution to our satisfaction. Yet what we often don't realize that this is a lie that we are believing. As we can easily see from the story we read of today, true joy comes not from sin, but following God's commands. When the people of Israel finally repented and turned to the Lord, they were filled with great joy, and so will we be if we follow their example.

Read this quote by J.I. Packer, which goes along with our theme today, specifically touching upon the sin of sexual impurity: "Sexual laxity does not make you more of a man [or woman], but less so; it brutalizes you, and tears your soul to pieces. The same is true wherever any of God's commandments are disregarded. We are only living truly human lives just so far as we are laboring to keep God's commandments; no further." In other words, we can only experience the true joy in which we were created for as much as we obey God's commands. To walk contrary to them is to brutalize ourselves--to make ourselves unhuman and attack our own joy.

In application today, consider: how have I believed the lie that sin is what satisfies you? In the reign of Hezekiah, we find that revival is the only true path to joy. Apart from the obedience of God's commands, joy will never be found. Believe this truth today, and trust in the Lord, that you may find great joy.